2013 NFL Draft Underclassmen

A list of officially declared underclassmen for the 2013 NFL Draft. I also offer my opinion on whether or not each prospect made a wise move by leaving school early. I will not factor financial considerations in my analysis because most players need the money.
This list has been updated on Jan. 19. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Ace Sanders, WR/KR, South Carolina
Height: 5-8. Weight: 176. Projected 40 Time: 4.43. Projected Round (2013): 3-5.
Ace Sanders initially said he was going back to school, but he changed his mind. He was right the first time. He'll probably be chosen in Round 4 (Round 3 at best), so he should have stayed at South Carolina.

Cierre Wood, RB, Notre Dame
Height: 6-0. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.58. Projected Round (2013): 4-5.
Cierre Wood was informed that he will not be picked prior to the third round. He'll probably be chosen early on Day 3. Still, I don't think this is a bad choice on his part because running backs can get hurt so easily.

D.J. Fluker, OT/G, Alabama
Height: 6-6. Weight: 335. Projected 40 Time: 5.15. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
I don't think D.J. Fluker could have vaulted into first-round consideration with another year at Alabama, so I have no problem with him declaring.

The Verdict: OK move

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
Height: 6-0. Weight: 220. Projected 40 Time: 4.55. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
I'm all for running backs declaring early if there's a good chance they'll be chosen in the first two rounds. They are just so injury-prone that a return to school could seriously damage their draft stock if things go poorly.

Brandon Kaufman, WR, Eastern Washington
Height: 6-4. Weight: 214. Projected 40 Time: 4.54. Projected Round (2013): 5-7.
Brandon Kaufman is just a late-round prospect who wasn't on anyone's radar, so he should have returned to school.

The Verdict: Bad move

Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.50. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
As I've stated before, if a running back has a good chance of going in the first two rounds, he almost has to declare to avoid injuries.

The Verdict: Good move

Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 183. Projected 40 Time: 4.57. Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
It was fairly obvious that Marquess Wilson would declare early after walking out on the team in November.

Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia
Height: 6-6. Weight: 350. Projected 40 Time: 5.55. Projected Round (2013): 3-5.
Kwame Geathers would have been the starting nose tackle next year with Johnathan Jenkins gone. Going back to school would have been the smart choice.

The Verdict: Bad move

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Height: 6-3. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.40. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
I'd suggest Cordarrelle Patterson should go back to school under normal circumstances, but everyone on offense is leaving, including quarterback Tyler Bray. Patterson would've had a good chance to be a top-15 pick next year had Bray remained, but he could still be the first receiver chosen this April.

Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 320. Projected 40 Time: 5.01. Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
Menelik Watson has a chance to be picked in the third round, but he's raw and could have improved his stock so much more by going back to school. He made a bad choice.

The Verdict: Bad move

Steve Williams, CB, California
Height: 5-10. Weight: 185. Projected 40 Time: 4.34. Projected Round (2013): 6-FA.
Steve Williams will be lucky to get drafted, so this is obviously a very stupid football decision.

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Height: 6-6. Weight: 310. Projected 40 Time: 5.15. Projected Round (2013): Top-Five Pick.
Luke Joeckel has the potential to be the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. There's no reason for him not to declare.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Levine Toilolo, TE, Stanford
Height: 6-8. Weight: 265. Projected 40 Time: 4.62. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Levine Toilolo will likely be chosen on Day 2, so this is a fine decision. He could have used one more year of school though.

The Verdict: OK move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Jan. 7:

Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 255. Projected 40 Time: 4.74. Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
Gavin Escobar has been told he could go as high as the third round. I'm not sure why he would declare upon hearing that news. Going back to school would have been the better decision.

The Verdict: Bad move

Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
Height: 6-6. Weight: 249. Projected 40 Time: 4.61. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Zach Ertz has a shot to go in the first round, so he's coming out at the right time.

Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 260. Projected 40 Time: 4.61. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Like Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery had a down 2012 season. There are some work-ethic issues, so he has less of a chance of going in the first round than his teammate.

The Verdict: OK move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Jan. 5:

Travis Frederick, C/G, Wisconsin
Height: 6-4. Weight: 338. Projected 40 Time: 5.36. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Travis Frederick will probably be a second-day selection. That's not a good reason to declare, but I'm not sure how much he could have improved his stock.

The Verdict: OK move

Jawan Jamison, RB, Rutgers
Height: 5-8. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.46. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
As I've said, I'll never berate any running back capable of going in the first three rounds for declaring early because of the injury risk. Jawan Jamison has a good shot to be picked early on Day 2.

Spencer Ware, RB, LSU
Height: 5-11. Weight: 223. Projected 40 Time: 4.57. Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
Declaring for the NFL Draft as a third-round prospect is never a good move, but this one is at least understandable. Spencer Ware wouldn't have received much of a workload next year. At least he's avoiding injury.

The Verdict: OK move

Brad Wing, P, LSU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 184. Projected Round (2013): 5-FA.
Brad Wing is declaring as a redshirt sophomore because he was suspended from the team for failing multiple drug tests. He really has no choice but to move on to the NFL, but I'll still give him a "bad move" for being an idiot.

The Verdict: Bad move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Jan. 4:

David Amerson, CB/S, N.C. State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 194. Projected 40 Time: 4.46. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
It's not exactly a wise decision to declare for the draft after watching your stock drop by about two rounds. David Amerson may drop into the third round after being touted as a top-10 prospect prior to the 2012 season. He also may have to move to safety.

The Verdict: Bad move

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Height: 6-2. Weight: 242. Projected 40 Time: 4.50. Projected Round (2013): Top-Five Pick.
Jarvis Jones is close to a top-five lock and currently the favorite to go No. 2 overall to the Jaguars. This was an easy choice.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Eric Reid, S, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 212. Projected 40 Time: 4.45. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Eric Reid was considered a potential top-15 prospect prior to the 2012 season, but he didn't play as well this year. He still has a shot to be selected in the first round, so this is not a terrible choice. Still, it might have been better for him to go back to school.

The Verdict: OK move

Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 193. Projected 40 Time: 4.48. Projected Round (2013): 3-5.
I have no idea what this guy is thinking by declaring early. He needs to go back to school, back to school, to prove to his dad that he's not a fool.

The Verdict: Bad move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Jan. 3:

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 238. Projected 40 Time: 4.63. Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
Teams are beginning to sour on Big Ten plodders, so Le'Veon Bell could go in the fourth round. Still, it's never a terrible decision for any running back to declare early because they get injured so easily.

The Verdict: OK move

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Height: 6-3. Weight: 301. Projected 40 Time: 4.98. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Sharrif Floyd has a shot at going in the first round, but will probably be taken in the second. Solidifying his first-round status could have been a good option, but he may have risked injury or regression.

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.44. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Xavier Rhodes is a fringe first-rounder. He may have been able to improve his draft stock and solidify his first-round status by going back to school, but he also could have hurt himself.

The Verdict: Good move

Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 285. Projected 40 Time: 4.80. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Dion Sims will likely be drafted on the second day. I don't think he could improve his draft stock much more with another year at Michigan State, so I'm fine with this decision.

The Verdict: OK move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Jan. 2:

Mike Edwards, CB/KR, Hawaii
Height: 5-10. Weight: 180. Projected 40 Time: 4.44. Projected Round (2012): 6-FA.
Mike Edwards might be drafted. This is a poor football decision on Edwards' part, though I realize that he's doing this because he has two children.

Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 236. Projected 40 Time: 4.61. Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
Alec Ogletree is coming off a great season, and there's a good chance he'll be chosen in the 17-28 range. He's made a pretty good decision to declare early.

The Verdict: Good move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Dec. 31:

Matt Elam, S, Florida
Height: 5-10. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.50. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Matt Elam has a shot at being selected in the first round, so why not declare? He had a great junior campaign, so I don't know how much further he could improve his draft stock.

The Verdict: Good move

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Height: 6-1. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.40. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
DeAndre Hopkins has a shot of going into the first round. He could solidify that by going back to school, but he could also risk a drop-off, so this is a decent decision.

Corey Lemonier, DE/OLB, Auburn
Height: 6-4. Weight: 246. Projected 40 Time: 4.60. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Corey Lemonier may have been able to sneak into the end of the first round with another season at Auburn, but declaring isn't a terrible move because he's expected to be drafted sometime during Day 2.

Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
Height: 6-0. Weight: 190. Projected 40 Time: 4.49. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Logan Ryan will probably be chosen in the second round. He could have improved to a sure-fire first-round prospect with another year at Rutgers, but at least he won't have to worry about injuries or a down senior campaign.

The Verdict: OK move

Robert Woods, WR, USC
Height: 6-1. Weight: 180. Projected 40 Time: 4.40. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Robert Woods was once regarded as a top-10 prospect, but a miserable 2012 campaign dropped him into Day 2 consideration. He should have gone back to school to rehab his draft stock.

The Verdict: Bad move

Underclassmen Declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft - Dec. 23 and Earlier:

Keenan Allen, WR, California
Height: 6-2. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.49. Projected Round (2013): Top 25.
Keenan Allen will be battling Terrance Williams and Cordarrelle Patterson to be the first receiver taken in the 2013 NFL Draft. Allen doesn't really have much to gain by going back to school.

Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia
Height: 5-10. Weight: 193. Projected 40 Time: 4.40. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
It'll be an upset if Stedman Bailey isn't chosen on the second day of the 2013 NFL Draft. With Geno Smith heading to the pros, Bailey's decision was easy.

The Verdict: Good move

Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
Height: 5-10. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.52. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Giovani Bernard is the favorite to be the first running back off the board, so there was no need to return to school and risk further injury.

The Verdict: Good move

Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee
Height: 6-6. Weight: 210. Projected 40 Time: 4.82. Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
Tyler Bray never developed at Tennessee and showed major immaturity issues in college. He needs to spend more time in school, but I can't really fault him for declaring because his head coach was just fired.

The Verdict: OK move

Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas
Height: 6-1. Weight: 226. Projected 40 Time: 4.52. Projected Round (2013): 5-6.
Knile Davis is a former second-day prospect who struggled this year coming off a broken ankle. He would have been better off going back to school and rehabbing his draft stock, especially with Bret Bielema being hired to be the head coach.

The Verdict: Bad move

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Height: 6-6. Weight: 251. Projected 40 Time: 4.70. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Tyler Eifert is the heavy favorite to be the first tight end snagged off the board, so why not head to the pros?

The Verdict: Good move

Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 325. Projected 40 Time: 5.18. Projected Round (2013): Top-20.
Johnathan Hankins is almost a lock to go in the top 20 unless he struggles at the Combine or bombs in team interviews. He's doing the right thing by declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Verdict: Good move

Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Height: 6-4. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.48. Projected Round (2013): Top 25.
Justin Hunter didn't have the 2012 campaign that he wanted, but he was coming off a torn ACL. He's making the right move here; he has a chance to go in the first round and everyone at Tennnessee, including his quarterback, is leaving.

The Verdict: Good move

Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
Height: 5-10. Weight: 212. Projected 40 Time: 4.49. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Tony Jefferson is almost certainly locked into being a Day 2 selection with an outside chance of being chosen in the first round. I'm not sure if he had anything to gain by going back to school, but perhaps he could have solidified his first-round standing.

The Verdict: OK move

Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 260. Projected 40 Time: 4.67. Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
I don't quite get this. Brandon Jenkins could have taken a medical redshirt season and rehabbed his foot injury well enough to vault back into first-round consideration. Now, he'll be hoping that he's picked on Day 2.

The Verdict: Bad move

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Height: 6-0. Weight: 218. Projected 40 Time: 4.50. Projected Round (2013): 5-FA.
This seems like a bad move on the surface because Marcus Lattimore is almost a lock to be taken on the third day, but NFL medical facilities will give him the best chance to rehab his devastating knee injury. I'm pulling for him.

The Verdict: Good move

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
Height: 5-9. Weight: 175. Projected 40 Time: 4.42. Projected Round (2013): 3-6.
Well, it was either the draft or some 1-AA school for Tyrann Mathieu. If Mathieu had stayed out of trouble and played well at that 1-AA school, he could have jumped into the second round like Janoris Jenkins did last year. As it stands now though, Mathieu will probably be selected in Rounds 3-4. I have him going to the Ravens at the end of the third in my 2013 NFL Mock Draft. So, is risking injury and/or regression worth one or two rounds? I don't think so. Mathieu is making the right decision here - for once.

The Verdict: Good move

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Height: 6-3. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.40. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Cordarrelle Patterson has a good chance to be the first receiver chosen during the 2013 NFL Draft, so with everyone at Tennessee heading to the NFL, Patterson's decision wasn't very difficult.

The Verdict: Good move

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Height: 6-4. Weight: 295. Projected 40 Time: 5.17. Projected Round (2013): Top-25.
Sheldon Richardson is coming off a monstrous season and now has a good chance of being selected in the top 15. There's no doubt that he's doing the right thing.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech
Height: 6-3. Weight: 208. Projected 40 Time: 4.48. Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
As Charlie wrote, "If Josh Gordon can be a second-round pick after sitting out football in 2011, there is no reason for Da'Rick Rogers not to be at least a second-day pick if he enters the 2013 NFL Draft." Rogers is probably doing the correct thing here. He'd be a first-round pick if it weren't for his off-the-field issues (multiple failed drug tests).

The Verdict: Good move

Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois
Height: 6-1. Weight: 305. Projected 40 Time: 5.23. Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
Akeem Spence needs a good Combine performance because he didn't play very well in 2012. He could have gained a lot by going back to school, so I don't really understand his decision.

The Verdict: Bad move

Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
Height: 6-1. Weight: 189. Projected 40 Time: 4.53. Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
Kenny Stills is probably going to be a Day 2 selection, but he could slip. Still, you can't really fault him for declaring with Landry Jones set to graduate.

Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
Height: 6-4. Weight: 235. Projected 40 Time: 4.65. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Anthony Barr is avoiding all of the pass-rushing competition this year, which is a good thing. He'll have a shot to be chosen in the top 15 a year from now.

The Verdict: Good move

Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225. Projected 40 Time: 4.63. Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
There was a small chance Tajh Boyd would go in the first round this year, but he was probably going to be a Day 2 selection. Going back to school will help him solidify his first-round chances. I like it.

Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 195. Projected 40 Time: 4.46. Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
Justin Gilbert did not have a good junior campaign, so he's doing the right thing here. He can improve his draft stock in 2013 and perhaps become a second-round prospect.

The Verdict: Good move

Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami
Height: 6-8. Weight: 345. Projected 40 Time: 5.19. Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
Seantrel Henderson is a bum who has never lived up to his enormous potential. Perhaps another year of school will help him grow up.

The Verdict: Good move

Andrew Jackson, ILB, Western Kentucky
Height: 6-1. Weight: 265. Projected 40 Time: 4.72. Projected Round (2012): 2-4.
Andrew Jackson may not have been picked on Day 2, so he's doing the right thing.

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Height: 6-5. Weight: 305. Projected 40 Time: 4.98. Projected Round (2013): Top 25 Pick.
Jake Matthews had a chance to go in the top 10, but with a strong 2013 campaign with left-tackle tape, he can solidify himself as a top-five lock. Of course, he could struggle or suffer an injury, so this is a risky move.

The Verdict: OK move

Trey Millard, FB, Oklahoma
Height: 6-2. Weight: 249. Projected 40 Time: 4.71. Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
Trey Millard told people at the Oklahoma program that he would be declaring, but then changed his mind at the 11th hour. Perhaps he read this Web site. At any rate, great move on his part. He had to go back to school.

The Verdict: Good move

C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 234. Projected 40 Time: 4.65. Projected Round (2013): 1.
C.J. Mosley would have been in competition with Kevin Minter and Alec Ogletree to be the first non-pass-rushing linebacker to be chosen after Manti Te'o. He still would have gone at the end of the first round, in all likelihood, but it's difficult to fault him for going back to school.

Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Height: 6-5. Weight: 326. Projected 40 Time: 4.99. Projected Round (2014): 2-3.
Louis Nix has a good chance to be taken in the first round in 2014, so he's doing the right thing.

Will Sutton, DE/DT, Arizona State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 271. Projected 40 Time: 4.95. Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
Will Sutton is a great college player, but he's a projected tweener in the NFL. It's a good thing that he's going back to school.

Kyle Van Noy, DE/OLB, BYU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 235. Projected 40 Time: 4.60. Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
Kyle Van Noy probably would have been picked at the end of the first round, so this is a risky move. He could bolster his draft stock even further and become a top-15 prospect in 2014, or he could have a down year. He probably should have declared.